Sudeoksa Temple

www.sudeoksa.com

The Korean-American Friendship Association in conjunction with the USO held a trip to Sudeoksa Temple for only $10 per person, including lunch!  How could I pass this up?  It was on a Friday, so Bill was not able to go.  I did happen to have a friend from the tax center on the bus.

This Buddhist monk was introduced to us as a very famous monk, but I am not sure what distinguishes him from others.  He played 'Arirang', a Korean folk song which is well known throughout the country, on his traditional Korean flute.








Sudeoksa is the largest temple I have been to.  Other temples have giant Buddhas or golden Buddhas.  Sudeoksa has a LOT of Buddhas, nine if I remember correctly.  The main temple was built in 1308 and despite all of Korea's wars and domination, the original structure has survived.  It has been repaired over the years, of course.  Photographs of inside this temple are not allowed because people use this temple constantly and as they wish.

I made that picture extra large so maybe you can read the history if you want to.

 Dragons on the first pagoda inside the temple


                                                                                Entrance to the temple

Most of the faces we saw while walking along the grounds were Asian.  Perhaps because it was not a weekend day, a few people seemed surprised to see us.  Two asked if we were 'miguk salam', Hangeul for American people.

I wish I could tell you who the figures are above.  Fearsome expressions, and their feet rest upon people and tigers.  Obviously they control various aspects of the universe with their gifts of power.

It is just beautiful there.

                These lotus flowers are placed in honor of a person by the monks.

                      This is where teacher and students sit/kneel to write and meditate.

The walls are reliefs, carved wood commemorating historical moments in Buddhism.  The white on the ceiling are lanterns with written prayers hanging from them.

 I saw two people inside a greenhouse type structure making lanterns, so I walked in and took some pictures of lanterns they had completed.

These lanterns were strung along the sides of some of the paths on the grounds.

Buddha has lots of friends and students.

Buddhas catching a fish

Temple altars

This building is a pass through and had the large statues inside, 2 on each side.

This is the building from 1308.  The pagoda on the right has pieces from the original which was built in the mid-tenth century.

 After our temple tour, we met in the town just outside the main gate for lunch.  We then explored the small town known for its items for health including teas, herbs, and medicinal foods.  The honey had comb and BEES in it.

This fellow was cutting candy with a pair of scissors as a hammer and a flat chisel.  It was musical in sound.  Sudeoksa Temple also has a 'Temple Stay' program where for the price of a little less than $30, you can spend 2 days and 1 night behaving as a Buddhist monk in training, doing chores, meditating, and writing Buddha's teachings as a way to learn and meditate.  I may have to do that at some point.